Shoe-lace fastener



(No Model.)

H. M. SNYDER. SHOE 'LAGE FASTENBR.

Patented- ;A'ufg. 12, 1884.

INVENTOR W. Grofzyvr ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HELEN M. SNYDER, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,549, dated August 12, 1884.

Application filed May 17, 1884.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HELEN M. SNYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jeiierson and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe -Lace Fasteners;l

and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or .figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is arepresenta-tion of this invention, and is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the fastener, and shows it open. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the fastener; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the fastener,

v and a portion ofthe material to which it is attached This invention has' relation to means forv and novel arrangement of devices, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the appended claims. v

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a designates the base of a clasp,which may be made in any ornamental form or plain. It is usually made fiat,and is provided with marginal-point projections b, or fastenings, whereby it can be attached to the shoe, glov'e, or other article. Instead of the points I?, the base may be made with perforations near its edge for the passage of a thread, and may be sewed to the article. For shoes, the point-fastenings are preferred. The base is usually made of metal; but it may be made of other material, if desired. Hinged to this base, at one end or side, is the movable portion or cap c of the clasp, which may`be made in ornamental form or plain. As usually constructed, it is made with a central opening, d, which allows room for the knot made in tying the laces together; or, when they are not tied, but lsimply laid across between the base and cap, and these parts fastened together, the opening will atiord by its margin a purchase on the lacings, so that they will be held securely; but instead of a central opening in the cap it may be made with a concavity or recess in its inner side, which will answer the same purposes, the con- (No model.)

cavity receiving the knot of the tic. To the .base is fastened a spring, e, which carries a catch, g, at its end,"l whicli,when the cappiece cis pressed down is designed to engage the edge of said cap-piece and hold it securely to the base. By pressing on the end ofthe spring the catch may'be'easily disengaged from the edge of the cappiece, so that the clasp will y open. In some instances'it may be desirable to apply between thebase and cap,to either of these parts, a small spring, as ,indicated at h, the oflice of which is to throw the cap piece open, when the catch is disengaged. This spring may be made in any convenient form. In many cases such a spring is not required, and will only be advisable when the laces are thin and very pliable, so that they have but little elasticity in themselves. Sometimes it is desirable to provide the base with two catch projections, one alittle above the other, in order that the clasp may be used with large or small lacings. In this case, when large lacings are used, the outer catch will engage the cap-piece of the clasp, and when small or thin lacings are employed the inner catch will act.

Instead of using a hinge to connect the base and cap-piece of the clasp,the entire clasp may be made of a single piece of steel. This is especially desirable for the fastenings for the lacings ot' gloves. be turned down, and those ofthe base turned up, or the said edges may be serrated, and the teeth of the cap made to mesh with those of the base.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

I. `A clasp-fastening for laclngs, consisting of a base having a spring-catch, and, hinged thereto, a cap-piece having a central opening or concavity, d, substantially as specified.

2. A clasp-fastening for lacings, consisting of a base formed with attachment projections, and having a spring-catch, and a4 cap-piece havinga central opening or concavity to allow for the knot of the tie, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HELEN 'M. SNYD ER. Witnesses:

C. G. MERMAN, JOHN S. BELL.

The edges ofthe cap may. 

